Godhra train burning convict gets bail after 17 years from SC
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New Delhi: One of the convicts, who has been serving life imprisonment, in connection with the Godhra train burning case, got bail from the Supreme Court after 17 years.
A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha took note of the submission of a lawyer, appearing for one of the convicts, Faruk, that he be granted bail considering the period undergone till now.
The appeals against the conviction of several convicts are pending adjudication in the apex court.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Gujarat government, said it was "the most heinous offence" in which 59 people, including women and children, were burnt alive and there was a need to hear the appeals of the convicts at the earliest.
Faruk along with several others was convicted for pelting stones at the coach of the Sabarmati Express.
Mehta said usually stone pelting is an offence of minor nature. However, in the instant case, the train coach was bolted and stones were pelted to ensure that passengers cannot come out moreover, stones were thrown at fire tenders also, the law officer said.
On February 27, 2002, 59 people were killed when the S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express was burnt at Godhra, triggering riots in the state.
PTI Input